American Original '50s Precision Bass
This Fender American Original '50s Precision Bass in Aztec Gold is a new instrument from 2020. The Fender American Original '50s Precision Bass is Fender's tribute to the groundbreaking electric bass that revolutionized the music world in the early 1950s. As part of the American Original series, this instrument aims to offer the authentic look, sound, and feel of the original models, while incorporating subtle, modern adjustments for contemporary reliability.

The bass has an alder body and a sturdy maple neck with a "thick C" profile, typical of the 1950s. This is an essential feature for lovers of the vintage feel, as it replicates the fuller neck profile of that era. The maple fingerboard features vintage tall frets and a modern 9.5-inch radius, which allows for more comfortable string bending and pulling compared to the historically accurate 7.25-inch radius.

At the heart of the sound is the Pure Vintage '58 Split Single-Coil Precision Bass Pickup. This pickup is designed with meticulous attention to detail, from the Alnico 5 magnets used to the fabric-wrapped wiring. It delivers the iconic, punchy, and percussive P-Bass tone that defined rock, soul, and many other genres.

A key feature of the American Original series is the high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish on the body and neck. This thin nitrocellulose lacquer allows the wood to breathe and is said to contribute to the resonance. It also ages in an authentic and attractive way over time (known as "checking" or "road worn"). All hardware, from the vintage-style bridge with four string saddles to the open reverse tuners, is also modeled after the original.

In summary, the American Original '50s Precision Bass offers the best of both worlds: the distinctive look and powerful, warm sound of the Fender era, combined with playability that meets the demands of modern musicians.


Tony Franklin Signature Precision Bass
The Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass is a premium signature instrument that perfectly reflects the requirements of world-renowned session bassist Tony Franklin and stands out from a standard fretless bass thanks to a number of unique features. It comes from Fender's first production series from 2007.

The basis of this US-made instrument is a classic alder body with a maple neck featuring a comfortable "Modern C" profile. The defining feature is the fretless fingerboard made of untreated ebony. This wood, often used in traditional double basses, combined with Franklin's preferred roundwound strings, produces the characteristic singing tone and aggressive "growl." For orientation, there are no lines on the fingerboard, only small side position markers (side dots).

The bass is extremely versatile thanks to its P/J pickup configuration: it features a specially designed Tony Franklin American Split Single-Coil Precision Bass pickup in the middle and a Single-Coil Jazz Bass pickup with hex screw pole pieces at the bridge. The passive system is not controlled by a balance control, but by a 3-way selector switch that allows you to quickly switch between the growling P-bass tone, the clear J-bass bridge tone, or the full combo sound.

A practical unique feature is the Hipshot Bass Xtender on the E string. This mechanism allows the player to quickly and precisely tune the low E string down to D (Drop D) with a single movement, significantly expanding the range of the four-string instrument. The instrument is rounded off by a traditional nitrocellulose lacquer finish, which provides better resonance and develops an attractive patina over time.

In summary, the Tony Franklin Fretless P-Bass is a versatile, professional bass that combines the classic Fender look with specialized features for the modern fretless player.



Fretless – Playing without frets

The term "fretless" comes from English and refers to a stringed instrument without frets.

Historical and Cultural Context

Many string instruments are traditionally fretless. These include all string instruments in the classical orchestra (violin, viola, cello, double bass). However, the tradition of fretless instruments dates back over 3000 years !

The guqin (a seven-stringed Asian zither) is an ancient example.
The oud (a short-necked lute from the Middle East) is another well-known example.

Musical possibilities
Unlike instruments with frets, the fingered string rests on a smooth fingerboard. This allows for continuous variation in pitch, which leads to two significant musical effects:

True glissando: The notes can be played as a continuous slide, creating the typical "singing" or floating sound.
Microtonal playing: Fretless playing allows the integration of elements from musical styles such as Asian and Oriental music.

The quarter-tone steps and subtle, flowing pitch nuances typical of this music can be precisely reproduced in this way, similar to the human voice.

My double bass
is a relatively new "Christopher" of semi-solid construction in the Busetto shape.

The Busetto Form
There are traditionally three main types of double bass construction: the violin, the viola da gamba, and the busetto. The busetto is an Italian design or hybrid form, named after the Italian violin maker Busseto (or Busetto).

Features of the Busetto shape
It is often characterized by an elegant shape.
Violin corners (pointed corners like on a violin) are often combined on the upper body (upper bow) with a rounded or baroque lower bow.

Sound character
The sound character tends to be described as rich and warm. It often has a clear and expressive response. It is said to lay an excellent foundation.

Due to its easy response and direct tone, it is popular with bassists for solo playing and jazz.